Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will seek to reform the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979 so that two appropriate representatives from the practising professions who are not members of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting may serve on the professional conduct committee in order to increase flexibility and reduce delay in its hearings;

(2) how many cases are currently awaiting a hearing of the professional conduct committee of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting; and what is the current average waiting time for such hearings;

(3) what are the reasons for the delays in hearings of the professional conduct committee of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting; and what action is being considered both to reduce the meeting times and the backlog of cases.

Responsibility for hearings of the professional conduct committee of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting rests with the UKCC. I understand from the UKCC that when it was created in 1983 it inherited about 100 cases awaiting hearing, and that this figure has now risen to approximately 150. The current average waiting time from arrival with the committee is about 12 months.
581W
This build-up of cases of alleged professional misconduct is thought to be largely the result of increased public awareness accompanied by an increased understanding of professional accountability following the issue by the UKCC of a code of professional practice.

The UKCC is very concerned about these delays and is at present considering what arrangements can be introduced to reduce the backlog and facilitate a speedier clearance of these cases in the future.

We would be happy to consider any request from the council for a change to primary legislation to enable non-council members to serve on the professional conduct committee, but can give no assurances at this stage as to when time might be found in the legislative timetable.